Quick thoughts on the Willson Contreras trade
The Cardinals on Sunday dealt Contreras to the Red Sox in exchange for a package of three pitchers
I was, coincidentally, driving through Missouri on my from Chicago to Mississippi for the holidays when I heard of the trade that sent Willson Contreras out of St. Louis. My son, tethered to his phone like all other Kids These Days, passed along news of the deal that sends Contreras to the Red Sox in exchange for a trio of right-handed pitchers: Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita.
As well, the Cardinals included $8 million in cash in the deal to defray Contreras’ remaining commitment (he’s owed at least $41.5 million over the next two seasons). Straightaway, that’s notable and laudable. The DeWitts approved a cash inclusion in the Sonny Gray trade with Boston, but this one comes very soon after the Cardinals learned that FanDuel Sports Network’s parent company, Main Street Sports Group, wouldn’t be making its December rights payment to the club. Ownership had previously indicated they would be willing to help pay down contracts in trades, but it’s good to see it happen after yet another potential hit to the revenue stream.
As for the return, to my thinking it’s an impressive one considering that Contreras is a righty-righty first baseman – a player type not necessarily coveted by the markets – who’s going into his age-34 season. As well, Contreras’ full no-trade clause limited the demand side of the equation. Those are important contexts, and Chaim Bloom and company did well in light of them.
